"
"And what might this mystery be?" she asked. "The whereabouts of the
bogus Haggerty?"
"The bogus Haggerty will never cross our paths again. He has skipped
by the light of the moon. No, that's not the mystery. Why did you
tell me you were an impostor; why did you go to the cellars with me,
when all the while you were at the ball on Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds'
invitation?"
She leaned on her elbows and smiled at me humorously.
"Would you really like to know, Signor? Well, I was an impostor." She
sat with her back to the fire, and a weird halo of light seemed to
surround her and frame her. "Mrs. Hyphen-Bonds accidentally dropped
that invitation in my studio, a few days before she sailed for Europe.
I simply could not resist the temptation. That is all the mystery
there is."
"And they still think you were there rightfully!"
"You are no longer mystified?"
"Yes; there is yet another mystery to solve: myself." I knew it.
Without rhyme or reason, I was in love; and without rhyme or reason, I
was glad of it.
"Shall you ever be able to solve such a mystery?"--quizzically.
"It all depends upon you."
"Mr. Comstalk, you will not mar the exquisite humor of our adventure by
causing me any annoyance. I am sure that some day we shall be very
good friends.
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